As you can see, the answers are quite different. No single platform is that far ahead of the others.

Yelp

Facebook

Google

Trip Advisor

Better Business Bureau

Yellow Pages

You need to have a profile on all of these.

Here’s something else to consider. Even if you don’t currently have an account on a platform such as Yelp, customers can still leave reviews on those sites about your business.

It’s in your best interest to claim those business pages to make sure all your information is accurate.

I’m referring to information such as your website address, phone number, physical address, and store hours. If you don’t claim your pages and check them for accuracy, it could hurt your reputation even more.

Let’s say someone sees a bad review online but they still want to give you the benefit of the doubt. They call you to find out more information and get a disconnected line because your phone number was inaccurate.

You just lost your chance of getting that person’s business. Don’t let this happen to you, and make sure your business is getting reviews on as many platforms as possible.

Remove ads from your website

You may not realize it, but your website may be hurting your credibility.

There could be certain design choices or elements that are turning people away and making them think your business is untrustworthy. You need to correct this as soon as possible.

But customers have a chance to get additional entries. If they upload a photo with their review, they’ll get a second entry to increase their chances of winning.

Use a similar tactic when trying to get your customers to write reviews. Ask them to upload photos as well.

Publicly respond to customer complaints

When users write unfavorable reviews about your business online, it can be a tricky situation.

Obviously, you want to defend yourself. But at the same time, you don’t want to start an argument with anyone.

Ignoring complaints isn’t the best option either. Other people will want to see how you’re able to handle a negative situation.

Remember the first rule of business? The customer is always right.

Even when they’re wrong, you need to treat them properly. Rather than being defensive and trying to make yourself look better, focus on making them happy.

Here’s an example of how Best Buy responded to a customer complaint on its Facebook page:

This customer had a problem with her experience at a specific store location.

Rather than trying to defend the situation, the company politely replied, empathizing with the customer and trying to get more information to help come up with a resolution.

Furthermore, this customer continued having problems when it came to reaching customer support on Facebook.

Best Buy responded to that comment as well by replying again and making sure her personal information and privacy were protected. This is a great example of how to publically handle customer complaints in the digital world.

Share user-generated content

As previously discussed, customer photos attached to a review are a great way to improve a brand’s reputation.

However, not everyone who writes a review will upload a photo.

Fortunately, that’s not the only way for you to get customer photos in the public eye. Start sharing user-generated content on your social media platforms.

Now you can control which types of customer photos make your brand look the most appealing.

The company highlighted testimonials from three very different businesses.

Having a well-respected insurance company such as Travelers write a testimonial for its business automatically improves BuildFire’s reputation.

Try to get testimonials from authority figures in a specific industry.

For example, let’s say your business makes musical instruments. A testimonial from a guitar player in a well-known band would help your reputation more than a review from a kid who plays drums in his parent’s garage.

Conclusion

If your company’s reputation got damaged, you can still correct it.

Even if you’re just trying improve your reputation or build credibility from scratch, you should follow the advice I’ve outlined in this guide.

Encourage your customers to write reviews. Set up a profile on as many review platforms as possible.

Reviews with pictures are even more impactful.

Get rid of ads on your website. Learn how to respond to customer complaints in the public eye.

Use tools that help you manage your reputation online. This will help you stay informed anytime someone mentions your business.

Share user-generated content. Start blogging more frequently. Work with social influencers.

In addition to reviews, use your website to highlight customer testimonials.

If you follow these tips, you shouldn’t have much trouble improving or repairing your online reputation.

What steps are you taking to improve the online reputation of your business?